Train-pipe coupling.



PATENTED MAR. 13, 1906. L. M. SARTAIN. TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION II LBD DEOJE, 1905.

INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y5 UNITED STATES PATENT ornron.

TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Eatented March 13, 1906.

Application filed December 15, 19%. Serial No. 291,924.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, LOUIS MARTAIN SAR- TAIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coalmont, in the county of Grundy and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Train-Pipe Coupler, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to train-pipe couplers, and has for its object to provide certain new and useful improvements whereby the coupling operation may be automatic and at the same time positive and effective. It is furthermore designed to enable the convenient vertical adjustment of the coupler to accommodate the same to cars of different heights and also to enable lateral yielding of the coupler sufficient to permit the proper engagement of adjacent couplers on a curve in a railway-track.

WVith these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made Within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pair of engaged couplers embodying the features of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, portions being broken away to show the interengaging connection between the couplers. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the coupler-heads.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the present invention I employ a coupler-head 1, which is preferably cylindrical in shape, having its front portion solid and its rear portion hollowed out to form a chamber 2, which is open at its rear end. The solid end of the head is pierced by a longitudinal opening 3 located at one side of the longitudinal aXis of the head, and diametrically opposite this opening is a nozzle 4, the bore 5 of which pierces the solid end of the head and communicates with the chamber 2. The opening or socket 3 is flared at its forward end and provided with a yieldable lining, so as to insure the snug fit of the nozzle of a companion coupler when two couplers are engaged. The rear open end of the chamber 2 is closed by a removable plug 7, which is threaded into the chamber and has a substantially horizontal shank portion 8 eX- tending rearwardly therefrom. One side of the chamber 2 is pierced by a port 9, to which is coupled a flexible pipe 10, which is provided upon its outer end with a suitable coupling 11.

The present coupler is designed to be suspended from the drawbar of any of the ordinary types of car-couplers, and therefore I provide a hanger comprising a plate or bracket 12, which is designed to be applied to the under side of a draw-bar, a conventional form of draw-bar being shown at 13 in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Bolts or other fastenings 14 pierce the plate or bracket so as to connect the same to the draw-bar. From the middle of the plate or bracket depends a stem 15, which loosely pierces the shank 8 and has a nut or head 16 threaded upon its lower end for engagement with the under side of the shank to support the latter at different elevations upon the hanger element 15. A spring bar 17 has its lower end suitably connected to the rear end of the shank 8 and its upper end connected to the plate or bracket 12, so as to yieldably hold the shank down against the support 16 and to yieldably maintain the shank lon itudinally of the car. As the shank 8 is loose upon the hanger member 15, it may be raised and lowered against the tension of the spring 17 by adjusting the nut 16 and also may be turned upon the hanger member 15 as a center against the tension of the spring 17 to bring the coupler-head into proper alinement with a companion coupler, particularly when the cars are standing upon a curve in the railway-track.

When applied to the draw-bar of a carcoupler, as just described, the coupling 11 of the pipe 10 is engaged with the controllingvalve 18 of the usual train-pipe 19, whereby the coupler-head is connected to the trainpipe service.

Upon the approach of two couplers of the present invention the nozzle 4 of each coupler enters the seat or socket 3 of the opposite coupler, whereby the air-chambers 2 of the two couplers are in communication with one another, and as each chamber is in communication with the train-pipe of the adjacent car through the pipe 10 the coupling or connection between the two train-pipes is automatically effected in a very simple and positive manner.

It will now be understood that no manual manipulation of the couplers is necessary when being coupled, and as the two heads Will readily draw apart there is no manual manipulation necessary to effect uncoupling.

When a coupler of the present invention approaches a car having the ordinary type of coupler, the coupling 11 of the pipe 10 is connected with the coupling upon the free end of the flexible pipe which is ordinarily carried by the stationary trainpipe, from which it will be understood that the present coupler may be conveniently and effectually con nected to the forms of train-pipe couplers now in general use.

Having thus described the 1nvent1on,what 1s claimed 1s 1. In a train-pipe coupler, the combina-.

tion of a hanger, a coupler-head carried by and yieldable vertically upon the hanger, said head also having a pivotal movement upon the hanger, and means yieldably resisting vertical and pivotal movements of the coupler-head.

2. In a train-pipe coupler, the combination of a hanger, a coupler-head carried by and yieldable vertically upon the hanger, a spring-bar inclined to the vertical and connected at opposite ends to the coupler and the hanger to yieldably resist vertical and pivotal play of the coupler.

3. In a train-pipe coupler, the combination of a hanger including a depending stem, a coupler-head having a portion loosely pierced by the stem, and a nut carried by the stem and engaging the coupler to adjustably elevate the latter.

4. In a train-pipe coupler the combination of a hanger having a depending stem, a coupler-head having a portion loosely pierced by the stem, a nut adjustable upon the stem and engaging the coupler to elevate the same,and a spring connected at opposite ends to the hanger and the coupler to yieldably resist the movement thereof.

5. In a train-pipe coupler, the combination of a hanger, a coupler-head carried by and movable vertically thereon, verticallyadjustable means upon the hanger independent of and engaging the lower side of the coupler to adjustably elevate the same, said coupler capable of moving vertically independent of the adjusting means, and a spring to yieldably resist vertical play of the coupler.

6. In a train-pipe coupler, the combination of a hanger having a depending stem, a coupler-head having a portion loosely pierced by the stem and capable of vertical pivotal movements thereon, an adjusting-nut carried by the stem and engaging the under side of the coupler, the latter capable of pivotal and vertical movements independently of the nut, and a spring connected at opposite ends to the coupler and the hanger to yieldably resist vertical and pivotal movements.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afliXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS MARTAIN SARTAIN.

Witnesses:

J. B. FERGUSON, J. L. OLIVER. 

